Bhubaneswar: Calling for a collaborative approach to fight hepatitis, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi asked people to join hands to raise awareness about the disease on World Hepatitis Day, here Sunday. The CM also underlined the importance of timely diagnosis while emphasising on a collaborative approach to fight the disease. “Together, we can work towards a future free from hepatitis,” he said.
On this occasion, Health and Family Welfare Department held activities across the state to raise awareness about viral hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver disease like cancer. The health officials stressed on testing, vaccination and early treatment as precautionary measures. The department also underlined the importance of maintaining healthier lifestyle. In a significant move to combat hepatitis and enhance public health preparedness, the state government has declared hepatitis as a notifiable disease, the officials said. “The directive mandates that all health centres, including public and private facilities, promptly report cases to designated authorities. The aim is to ensure timely intervention and control measures to curb the spread of the disease effectively,” officials said.
Notably, around 296 million people globally live with hepatitis B, and around 58 million people live with hepatitis C. Early detection and vaccination play a crucial role in preventing the spread of these infections.
ARINDAM GANGULY, OP